Dinner under the Stars at Saffron in Mayakoba

Mayakoba is a magical place. When the sun goes down, the stars light up the sky, making it the perfect place for couples to reconnect together. While I was staying in Mayakoba, we made plans to have dinner at Saffron, Banyan Tree Resorts signature restaurant. The restaurant features Thai cuisine to be savored while sitting on a wood deck that floats over water and surrounded by lush tropical mangroves.

We took the complimentary resort shuttle from the Fairmont Mayakoba over to Banyan Tree Resort for dinner at Saffron. We walked over to the restaurant where we saw the beautiful deck with twinkling lights strung over the tables. They guided us to a table overlooking the water where we were about to go on an unforgettable epicurean adventure.

There were so many items on the menu, and we couldn’t decide what to order, so we got the five-course prix fixe menu. Our first course started with Satay Gai that has grilled tender chicken breast satay, cucumber salad, and peanut sauce. We also savored the Nua Yang Takrai that was a spicy grilled rib eye beef salad. My daughter loved the chicken and enjoyed every bite of the beef salad. Both appetizers were the perfect start to our dining experience at Saffron.

For our second course, we were served a flavorful soup called Tom Kha Gai that featured coconut broth, chicken, coriander, and kaffir lime leaf. I love anything that features coconut, and this soup was one of the best soups that I have ever savored.

The third course was the highlight of the meal. We were served Paneang Nuea that featured grilled angus beef, and a ground peanut aromatic red curry. This dish tantalized my taste buds just from the aroma, and the flavors exploded in my mouth with every bite. Along with the Paneang Nuea, we enjoyed the Goong Gratiem Prik Thai that featured crispy tiger prawns, black pepper, garlic sauce, and asparagus.

Following our third course, we devoured the most flavorful curry. The dish is called Gaeng Karee Gai and is a traditional curry with chicken, sweet potatoes, and onion paired with crispy red shallots, cherry tomatoes, and pineapple. Along with the curry, we loved the Phad Phak Ruam that was a stir fried assortment of Asian-style vegetables with an oyster sauce.

Our evening ended with Sangkaya for dessert. It was a creme brulee trilogy featuring coconut, pandan, and tea thai. It was the ideal ending to our dining experience at Saffron.

The chef at Saffron is from Thailand and is a remarkably talented chef. He created some of the best Thai food that I have ever had and the service at Saffron was impeccable. When visiting Mayakoba with your family, make reservations to have an unforgettable dining experience at Saffron at Banyan Tree Resort. Reservations are available with your resort concierge.